Odisha Review December - 2015

Promotion of Tourism Through Event - A Study on Konark Festival

Dr. Sarat Kumar Lenka Alok Ranjan Mishra

In eastern , Konark is one of the “World the affliction of leprosy caused by the curse of his Heritage Sites” recognized by UNESCO and the elders. Another legend has it that king Narasimha place is within one of the India’s 10 profitable Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty had ordered this heritage sites. It is also considered as the pride temple to be built as a royal proclamation of the and glory of the people of Odisha. Before political supremacy of his dynasty. A work force concentrating on “Konark Dance Festival” as a of 12 hundred artisans and architects invested major event for promotion of tourism in terms of their creative talent, energy and artistic drawing the attention of the tourists, we have to commitment for an exhausting period of 12 years. emphasize on its significance as a prominent The king had already spent an amount equivalent tourist site in the state. Though we have not to the state’s revenue receipts of 12 years. Then focused on the whole aspect of Konark but we the king issued a final command that the work be should have some knowledge in our mind about completed by a stipulated date. The team of the historical and mythological legend behind the architect headed by “Bisu Maharana” carried on construction of the temple, its rich art and the work. It was then that “Dharmapada”, the 12 architecture and above all how the monument will years old son of the chief architect Bisu Maharana be conserved in its present state and attitude of arrived there as a visiting onlooker. He became all stakeholders should be focused on its aware of the anxiety looming large among the maintenance, preservation so that it could be able architects. Although he did not have any practical to extort wonder and admiration of all classes of experience of temple construction, he was through visitors for all times to come. in his study of the theories of the temple architecture. He offered to solve the confounding The Legend: problem of fixing the last coping stone at the top Oral history and folk mythology have of the temple. He surprised everyone by doing created layers of legends shrouding the genesis that himself. But soon after his achievement, the of the splendid example of Odishan architecture. dead body of the adolescent prodigy was found As one of those legends goes, “Jambawati” and on the sea beach at the foot of the temple. Legend Lord Krishna’s son “Shamba” worshipped the says that Dharmapada laid down his life to save sun god at the holy spot of Konark to get rid of his community.

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ART AND ARCHITECTURAL attached to the base and seven horses harnessed EXCELLENCE: in front of the entrance hall. It was a symbolic Although located in Odisha and built by representation of the abode of the Sun God the master architects, sculptures and craftsmen whose movements are marked by division of time of Odisha Konark is the quintessence of Odishan into months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and temple architecture and arts. The Sun temple of seconds. Each of the twenty-four wheels has eight Konark has drawn the attention of art-lovers all spokes and queue axle-head bearing scenes over the world and has found place in the world depicting daily chores. heritage list. From a distance on ground level the Festival : temple appears as a massive pyramidal block of This monument of Ganga dynasty stone, standing distinctively tall amidst all other provides an ideal backdrop to the festival reviving recently built structures nearby. As one enters into a scenario of regal splendour and flourishing art the enclave through the only gate, one faces the forms. Besides, a river by the name - now roofless dance hall on raised platform. Next Chandrabhaga - is supposed to have existed just to this the audience hall which still retains its 3 kilometers away from the temple where original form. The main temple that used to be Shamba got cured of leprosy after praying Sun there beyond the audience hall is now in ruins. As God for 12 years. This spiritual legend draws one moves on the paved path way surrounding pious and spiritual people across the country and the temple complex one gets to see at eye level a abroad to be congregated in the Chandrabhaga series of intricately carved figures. This figures Mela (festival) and they take the holy bath in the sculptural narrative of all that life on earth had to small lake existing and they at the site every year offer animals, birds, trees, flowers, creepers, in memory of Shamba’s successful penance. If snakes, men and women. we compare Konark Festival organized by The free standing statues of damsels Odisha Tourism with the famous Khajuraho holding musical instruments adorn the top two Dance Festival of , we may find tires of the entrance hall. These monoblack statues lot of similarities among these two UNESCO are larger than life size for easy visibility from a designated world heritage sites. distance. So, whatever one casts a glance or looks Khajuraho Dance Festival is organized at intently, the temple has something or the other by Madhya Pradesh Parisada every year in the to offer the onlooker. A writer who stands month of February. It is a week long programme anywhere of the temple is instantly filled with a that focuses on various classical Indian Dance magical sense of awe and wonder. Konark stands forms. Khajuraho in the Chhatipur district of as a rare specimen of artistic and architectural Madhya Pradesh is famous for its temples which genius and abilities of a race that had nurtured the are known for their archaeological excellence. The craft for more than eight centuries. In fact it is the temples were built between 250-1050 A.D. under culmination of the cumulative talent and expertise the Chandela Dynasty. Those temples are primary of the Odia artisans. It is a veritable repository of tourist attraction of Madhya Pradesh and this all that is first rate in Odishan art and architecture. cultural event of dance makes them more popular The temple was conceived to resemble a among the tourists. Artists from all over India giant-sized chariot with twenty-four wheels come to perform their dance of excellence in the

10 Odisha Review December - 2015 open air auditorium of these temples. These if we compare Konark festival as a major tourism performances are held in the traditional way in event at par to the Khajuraho festival of M.P., the temple premises. Several tour operators and the following record in detail of tourists flow travel agencies design special cultural packages recorded by Tourism Departments of both the in the month of February for the tourists to see states may be taken into consideration. this festival. (Reference through net Google.) Tourists witnessed Khajuraho festival for But at Konark, tourists get scope to present and last year. experience two numbers of classical festivals at Year Domestic Foreign one destination but in different venues. Konark Dance and music festival of late Padmashree Guru 2014 22355 11270 Gangadhar Pradhan is being organized at Konark 2015 45600 9891 Natya Mandap since 1986 and Konark-festival Number of tourists witnessed Konark by Department of Tourism Govt. of Odisha in festival for last few years. association with Odishi Research Centre (ORC) in the Open Air Auditorium from 1989. When Year Domestic Foreign Konark dance and music festival is organized 2010 8204 389 from 19th to 23rd February every year, the later is from 1st - 5th December. The festival organized 2011 12700 422 by Odisha Tourism enables one to appreciate the 2012 8127 450 different forms at a single 2013 11062 258 platform. The festival is graced by legendary figures from the world of classical dance forms 2014 13494 210 and attended by many contemporary artists. 2015 14013 243 Eminent artists who have enthralled audiences at this festival in the past are Padmashree Kelucharan Suggestions and Conclusion : Mahapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Padma Envisaging the comparison of both the Subramanium, Radha Raja Reddy, Meenakshi festivals, it is found that, Odisha is lagging behind Sheshadri, Swapna Sundari, Sonal Mansingh, in increasing tourist flow during the time of Konark Kumkum Mohanty and Basanti Shreedhar. festival from 01st - 05th December. Although the To add variety, the festival also provides festival has become a promotional tourism event an element of folk rhythm. Interspersed between but still some major lacunae and valid causes are classical recitals are dance performances by found responsible for wooing tourist attention from numerous folk troupes from Odisha, Goa, Gujarat, national and international level. However, the Bihar, Assam and Rajasthan who make the following promotional strategy may be inculcated audience pulsating with their beats. The sole aim in planning by the Govt. for organizing this gala behind this festival is to bring artists of national tourism event in their future endeavour. and international repute to perform and to 1- Celebrity Cine artists specially from promote the diverse Indian dance heritages as Bollywood equipped with classical dance well as the popularity of Konark Temple and knowledge may be invited to perform in the Odisha as a major tourist destination. However 5 days programme at least for 2 times. This

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brand image could fetch good number of organized in between Chandrabhaga and tourists to experience the festival. Ramachandi beach which could be 2- Principal travel agent, tour operators, travel additional attractions for the tourists visiting writers of national and international repute festival. So the Government may may be invited in a Familiarization Tour contemplate to facilitate such small events Programme to the festival , so that they for tourism promotion during that period. could realize the importance of festival and 7- Special Tour Packages for Golden Triangle desire to promote the nearby important and Chilka in the day time and witnessing tourist destinations as well. festival at Konark in the evening with night 3- Wide publicity and advertisement of the stay may be introduced in the festival period festival both in terms of visual and text should by OTDC and other Travel Agents / Tour be given in all prominent tourism related operators and Hoteliers of this State. portal sites, magazines, journals etc. in References: advance for information of the tourists and 1. A. Journey to Odisha, P, 69 & 70. Published by - dance lovers of the globe. Sisukalam, Bhubaneswar. 4- Local communities may be sensitized to deal 2. World Heritage Series Konark, Text by Debala with the delegates, tourists in an appropriate Mitra, P, 1 – 19 & 92. and tourism - friendly manner to bring out Published by – The Director General sustainable relationship or in other words Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, 2003. the flow of tourists to Konark and nearby 3. Information received from Madhya Pradesh tourist destinations will be more frequented Tourism Dept. in future. 4. Statistical bulletin of Govt.of Odisha Tourism 5- Basic infrastructures like way site toilet/ Dept. washroom facilities in between Bhubaneswar to Konark and Puri to Konark may be provided for the tourists on payment of a token amount. This facility Dr. Sarat Kumar Lenka, Nodal Officer, IITTM, will gear up the frequency of travel to the Bhubaneswar. destination.

6- Beach activities like, Laser show, Alok Ranjan Mishra, Marketing Manager, OTDC, Ph.D Fireworks, bonfire with music may be Research Scholar of Tourism.

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